Obama’s Date Night in New York

Marie Antoinette syndrome in the White House. Let them eat cake. The obamas are SO TACKY!

Need attention much Indie? So we have a President anand a first lady very much in love and going out on date night. Nothing wrong with that and saying it’s tacky certainly doesn’t make it so.

So, instead of the normal 747-200, they elected to take three planes. I wonder how much fuel was really “saved”. Plus, let’s not forget the massive C5 that carries the presidential helicopters and limo plus additional SS vehicles. This “date night” was outrageously expensive, no matter how they choose to spin (the media that is).

Whine whine whine…………..
Sour grapes makes for excellent WHINE.
Don’t you just love to see a POTUS that an manage the world and still take his lady out weekly on a date?
Don’t hate. Try taking your lady on a date.

How much did this trip cost the taxpayers? Another $350K? I’m sick and tired of Obama ridiculing the automakers for flying to DC in their private jets yet he keeps flying all over the country like there is no tomorrow. People are losing their homes and jobs, we’re told to tighten our belts and yet he’s out there blowing all our tax dollars. What a joke.

It really isn’t in keeping with the message of our President to buckle down and live on less if we see him take his wife on a jet-set evening in New York. Sorry, this is about as politically correct as when Michelle Obama was seen wearing $550 while visiting a food bank. This man has changed!

granni:”How much did this trip cost the taxpayers? ”
The salary package for the President of the United States is public and well known. You should just say you hate Obama and leave it at that – you’d look a lot less foolish.
Our president caught a show on Broadway; I’ve done the same thing before with my wife and appreciate seeing our country’s leader mix with the normal folks.

Let the record show, Obama has finally kept a campaign promise.

Interesting juxtaposition with recent E-mails I received from friends living in downtown Chicago who in recent days witnessed fairly well-dressed people digging through restaurant dumpsters for food in broad daylight. I kid you not. Pity they didn’t get the memo that Obama’s Era of Hope and Change is here! I wonder how long it’ll take for the mainstream media to report these stories.

The Obamas should have stayed home at the White House and limited themselves to sitting at their computers making bitter postings on news sites.

I didn’t hear Republicans complaining about how much money it cost to outfit the Crawford Ranch for George Bush’s four month annual vacations. He needed communications/maintenance/security. That costs much more than a night out in NYC.
The RNC did put out a statement saying it was wrong for the Obamas to spend a night out while General Motors filed for bankuptcy.
Well I think it was wrong when George Bush flew out to California to get a guitar, while 1,000 people drowned in New Orleans.
But that’s just me. I’m one of those “No longer welcome” Republicans that Newt and Rush hate so much, so I’m a traitor in their books.

maybe you can tell us how much all those trips to crawford ranch cost taxpayers. Are how about all those trips to carry the Bush twins to and from jail?

Kim:”In the face of many GM workers at risk of not having jobs, thank goodness the Obama’s thought to stimulate themselves in New York.”
If he did not have the security requirements demanded by the secret service, he could have flown himself and his wife there for a few hundred dollars (a common short hop, or taken the train for about the same or a touch more).
Is being president now a prison sentence (unless you’re Republican of course, then commute from Texas in the 747 and fly around the country to raise money every election year without a peep of negative coverage from the corporate media)?

I think it would be very proactive of The President to pay his way out of pocket for a night out with his wife and all future outings by him or senators, congressmen/women who think that socializing and dating and networking are national rites voted to them by hard working Americans. They are not. If you want to talk the talk then walk the walk. That goes for all people who seek public office not just the President. Showing yourself in public does nothing to boost confidence in taxpayers who cannot afford a ticket to a show or even a movie and single moms whose only dream is not to die before all their kids’ graduate high school. Bubble time is over. Ask Jimmy Carter for some advice. He seems to be smart enough to have trumped Clinton, Bush and the rest for humanitarian sensibility. He is busy building houses for poor people in his free time.

Hurray for one hard-working President and First Lady. They absolutely deserve it. Whiners go home.

So he couldn’t have fulfilled this promise to Michelle in Nov, Dec, or early January when it wasn’t on the taxpayer’s dime?
I don’t mind him going out and having fun. Most people don’t fly to another city just for dinner, though. That’s pretty extravagant.

Bob HH:”Remember 1979 when inflation was 21% and the poor will feel it more than anyone else.”
Actually, with our national debt China and the very wealthy would feel it the most.

MayBee . ..
What? They should have done all their dating before he became President and they’re not allowed to go out on date’s now that he’s in office? Or should they just lose security for a night and wander around by train and taxi?

This isn’t about George Bush vs. Barack Obama or the Republicans vs. the Democrats. It isn’t about sour grapes either. What it does show is truly poor taste. We are in the middle of a recession, there are horrendous amounts of unemployed and people living on the streets. What the President is showing is “conspicuous consumption” and he isn’t trying to hide it one bit. Rulers should lead by example and this is one poor example for those Americans that are in deep trouble right now. Its just wrong!

I’m almost sure most thinking Americans would say, ‘those 2 deserve a night out in New York’ and would not begrudge them that.
And most Americans would understand the need for security, secret service and particular means of travel.
Of course if you’re looking for things to pick at . …

“Actually, with our national debt China and the very wealthy would feel it the most.”
Perhaps in nominal dollars, but as a percentage of income, the working poor and middle class will feel the negative effects of inflation much more acutely, as they did during the 70′s and early 80′s (I lived it). For many Americans, unless their financial houses are in order, the upcoming inflationary depression is going to bring them a lot of misery. They won’t take kindly to the excessive spending displayed by the Obamas while they’re struggling to put food on the table. True leaders lead by example, and Obama is no leader.

Stacey:” True leaders lead by example, and Obama is no leader.”
So he should be putting on a cardigan and telling everyone to wear long underwear? Rather than encouraging an atmosphere of confidence to keep the 90% of people still employed to continue living rather than retreat into economic bunkers and crater the economy for a decade (and unlike Japan, we won’t be able to claw our way out by exporting to the US)?
His actions are reasonable and prudent. NYC is not far from Washington DC; my wife and I have done it ourselves as a weekend trip and we’re barely AMT class.

So, jhw, are you telling me most people DO fly to another city just for dinner?
You know, it actually made sense for the Big 3 bosses to fly private planes, and it made sense for Wells Fargo to bring their sales people to Vegas, and it made business sense for Northern Trust to have parties in LA. But they were all reprimanded by Obama for it because it looked bad since they were being paid in part by the taxpayers. The same source of money, I believe, for the flights tonight.
Appearances are very important to this WH. We’ll see how this trip works for them. Will it be more Diana or Marie Antoinette

MayBee . …
You seem to forget the big 3 executives were coming to Washington to beg for money. “We’re so poor and broke we need your money, and we just blew here in our luxury private jets.”
No wonder they took flack almost unanimously.

“Rather than encouraging an atmosphere of confidence to keep the 90% of people still employed to continue living rather than retreat into economic bunkers and crater the economy for a decade?”
He’s giving people false hope. The solution to our current problems is not more spending–it’s saving. Americans in general have very small financial cushions. Very few people have even a month of expenses saved up. It is lunacy to keep spending unnecessarily when your financial situation is on the edge, a recession is deepening due to reckless Fed fiscal policies, and the unemployment rate continues to move upward. I have friends in professional fields that have been laid off 2 and 3 times inside of a year!
Incidentally, unemployment is actually 15.4%. That’s the BLS U6 measurement which includes underemployment, otherwise known as “real unemployment.” Economic forecasters expect it to hit the 20% to 25% range in the coming months. Given such a climate, there’s no way in heck I’m spending unless I have to.

danita- are there different taxpayers being asked to bailout the automakers than the ones footing the Obama’s flight to dinner?
Because the way I see it, both are asking for our money.
Washington DC has many fine restaurants for the Obamas to try.
There is a lot of business that can be done in New York if they would like to combine work and pleasure.
We’re in pretty tough times, and this was pretty frivolous behavior.

Trust me danita, I know very well what its like to be broke and unemployed all too well. The point is that I’m not being sour grapes but rather looking for our President to be thoughtful and considerate.
Its not all about the bad bankers and Bush Administration. We’ve created this nonsense scenario of the good vs. the bad. Well, there aren’t that many bad guys out there. Unfortunately it’s the few that wreak havoc on the many.

All of this for some reason reminds me of President Bush’s wisdom after 9/11 where he exhorted the American public to ‘go out and buy things, spend money.’
My how wisdom changes.

Danita- so what part of running a country with over 8% employment, a skyrocketing deficit, a deepening debt, a boatload of unfunded legislative dreams, and a need to get more money from the taxpayers, makes a frivolous luxury private plane ride to NYC look other than stupid?

Mom – You did vote for Ron Paul, yes?

babs – I agree, but don’t forget Bush ran us into the ground too. I am sick of both parties. Hardly believe anything that comes out of their mouths with the exception of a Paul or a Kucinich. Bunch of sludge in DC.

Judging by the multiple posts by some people it seems the Obama’s are not the only folks who are need of a date night.

The president never has a holiday, wherever he is.
I will say the same thing when the Obamas are in the Hamptons this summber.

Wednesday, August 3, 2005
Washington Post
“President Bush is getting the kind of break most Americans can only dream of — nearly five weeks away from the office, loaded with vacation time.
“The August getaway is Bush’s 49th trip to his cherished ranch since taking office and the 319th day that Bush has spent, entirely or partially, in Crawford — nearly 20 percent of his presidency to date.”
“President Bush spent a month at the ranch shortly before the Sept. 11, 2001.”
Do you get the picture?
My how quickly people forget the past standards set – and how much things really have changed.
Pay attention.

“Stacey you totally missed the previous poster’s point. If the well off and the wealthy hoard all their money and quit spending – things do not get better.”
That wasn’t his point at all. He was referring to the “90%” of consumers still working, most of whom aren’t wealthy.
But to your point, which is valid, the wealthy are a lot less wealthy now due to the economic meltdown. Obama has also promised them that they’ll be taxed more heavily. Some states like New Jersey have instituted millionaire’s taxes, which means the wealthy in those states necessarily spend less. Plus those that run businesses, in an effort to stay profitable, will cut costs, move their businesses to low-tax states (or out of the country), lay off employees, or outsource them. It’s not theory. It’s happening all around us.
Given this reality, I fail to understand how the wealthy who run businesses will improve the fundamentals of our economy and our national work force when they’re constantly bombarded with higher taxes and increased costs due to inflation and new regulations.

Okay Stacey, I’m going to start spending some of my fortune now.

hmm, i just read that the RNC (Sore loser party)is denouncing this date night because the tax payers are paying for the trip and security and on their website the headline “Putting on a show: Obamas wing into the city for an evening out while another iconic American company prepares for bankruptcy”. You know what, I have never bought an american car because they are crap!!. The “BIG 3″ always touted buying american, but they had mediocre cars, gas guzzling and all my friends who bought them were lemon.
I’m going to quote Lee Iacoca “in this business you either lead or get out of the way”. Well guess what the american people heeded his remarks and bought the leader of quality and reliability, the japanese. I have no qualms or sympathy for GM. They did this to themselves, Obama is doing in his ability to fix GM’s Golden Parachute CEO’s (CASe in point wiki chuck wagoner and see his Golden Parachute, your going to laugh).
And look how much it cost the uS tax payers for Mr Bush to parade in a “mission accomplish” get up. The jets to fly him there were a 747 air force 1 and an EA-6B prowler, you do the math. just that one episode costs more than obama’s trip to New york. Plus everyone will now eat at the restaurants they ate at and the play they saw. Talk about economic stimulus!!
Rebute that Mr Steele!

Stacy,
You’re right. With all the new taxes coming down the road at them, the “wealthy” will not be spending a whole lot. What they will be doing is divesting themselves of any investment that has any risk, for why do you want to take a risk if you are going to pay a tax of over 50% on it if you win? In fact its a good idea to sell all investments now before Obama’s increases in the capital gains tax take effect. Its not like they are going to earn much in the next few years anyway. Then again isn’t this exactly what NOT to do in a recession?
The worst part of it is that by making the label of “wealthy” at $250K per year, you are giving a steep haircut to the upper half of the middle class. These tend to consist of small business owners who do not have a corporate structure. Their companies are “pass-through” entities that are taxed as personal income. Not only do they get nailed, but they lay off some of their employees to make ends meet. Half of California’s workforce is employed by small business. Not a good idea in a recession either.
Sorry, the Obama’s still were tacky going out tonight on taxpayer $.

I would think anybody with a lot of money and even half a brain is investing it like crazy right now! This is the opportune time.
And if they are clever they will be investing it in ‘future’ businesses and technologies.
This will be a very good thing as long as the entire ball of wax doesn’t continue to disintegrate as it did at the tail end of the Bush administration.
It’s hard to say if the previous culture of gross consumerism and gross waste that America became so famous for world wide is sustainable in the future. We’re going to have to come up with ways to live more sensibly and I don’t think the old models will work.
This is where I feel we might be fortunate to have a President like Obama – he is intellectually brilliant, he is a visionary, he is very much future oriented with 2 young children – and he is apparently not a fundamentalist christian who hopes the world will come to a disastrous end because ‘it is god’s will’.

Regrettably Jon F, Bush had 8 full years to practise his talents and we are left with the reality of having dig out of that mess, regardless of how brilliant previous presidents might have been.

“Not only do they get nailed, but they lay off some of their employees to make ends meet.”
At the bottom of that threshold you don’t need to lay anybody off, you can just cut out the side of chips with your lunch every day.

danita, you are the reason I rarely engage Obama supporters in dialogue on any post. Please do not tell me that this little trip to New York is the first unnecessary trip that Obama has taken in the past 5 months. Please! Fundraisers in Las Vegas and LA alone this week cost taxpayers a bundle, and he didn’t even pretend that they were just a sideline to doing something constructive for all Americans. Your defense of this while quoting articles condemning George Bush for the same thing is hypocrisy at its finest.

danita, do you read what others write, or are you just so eager to defend Obama at every turn that you make up stuff as you go along? I did not defend what Bush did, never did, but I also will not defend Obama when he carries on the same practices, follows the same policies as Bush. Can you say rendition? signing statements? FISA? MTR permits? Do you need more?

Ron Paul is right, mises institute is right. We are in trouble. The executive branch of Gov’t is and has been running this country.
We need fiscal responsible CONGRESS a representative Republic (That is Republic, look it up) Gov’t back. President’s have had too much power. We are powerless, Fed Gov’t got your goat too!

Jon F it seems like the glory days of America you so cherish have already been killed off by the last 8 years of disastrous attempts at spurring on the economy by cutting taxes to the high income crowd and hoping that makes everything rosy.
I think we can see where that got us.
Tax cuts to the rich, half a trillion dollars of additional debt every year of the Bush administration, an economy that just collapsed and the country basically sold off to the Chinese.
And speaking of the presidents who went before, who are you speaking of . … surely not the ones who rang up the largest deficits at the time, like for instance Ronald Reagan? You must mean Bill Clinton who came close to eliminating the deficit until Bush got elected.
Time for everybody to get to work, including those rich cowards who are selfishly hoarding their money. It’s time to invest in the future, not count your money, suck your thumb and whine about the taxes required to pay for the Iraq war fiasco foisted on us by the neo-con crowd. Wish that we could simply pull back history 8 years and avoid that – but it ain’t possible.

Personally, I have no problem with the date night. If anything, wouldn’t it have been nice if the 3rd plane full of the press could have stayed home and left them to enjoy I night in peace, romance, and intimacy. One date night in his first 4+ months in office… it does not even begin to compare to Bush’s 3 weekends in Crawford by this time, 2/16/01, 3/09/01, and 4/12/01. As a nation, we might be collectively better served if we kept in mind our leaders were also human, with families and wives, who practically put all that on the back shelf for most of their tenure to be in constant service to us. Please, show a little compassion, let your heart skip a beat, and do something special for your own spouse and kids. What a better world this would be if everyone carved out a little time to let the ones they love know that they too are special and appreciated.

I keep seeing everyone saying that Bush did this type of frivilous travel too, so it’s ok for Obama. The truth of the matter is it was wasteful for Bush to travel needlessly like this, and it is wasteful for Obama to do so too. Wow, I can’t believe our electorate is crying out like 3rd graders (But Mrs. Hankins, Bobby got to have some candy, why cant I?) Obama increased the war stance and spending of the US, and everyone is still calling him the peace candidate….. unreal. Wake up you dummies! Quit being a cheerleader for the D’s or R’s and start holding your elected officials accountable for their actions and policy decisions without regard to their party. You are being distracted with politics while the policies continue to be the same.

He certainly lives up to his motto of ‘wealth redistribution’ by having the taxpayer foot the bill for his “romantic” nightout with his “fashionable” wife.
I can see the need of the Secret Service Agent for security purpose, but two Jets for a team of staff and reporters to be sent along? for what purpose? Was it a night out for presidential duty? No honey, was nothing but the sort of publicity only some shallow celebrities would crave ( but at least those celebrities pay out of their own pocket).
The American people ought to voice their objections over such wasteful self-serving personal activities from Obama. Who knows what else Obama promised his wife before, now and the future, not even himself has a clue -but surely he will just make it up along the way, why not, someone else is paying for the promises.

Why are Obama supporters happy that Obama is acting like Bush? I thought the idea was change, along with hope, of course. If nothing has changed and the rallying cry is Bush did it too, what was the beef against Bush doing it? The R after his name? Come on, at least admit that it is partisan politics that drives these stories.

80 year old Obama supporter with love and romance in my heart still :-D

Danita wrote: “…the last 8 years of disastrous attempts at spurring on the economy by cutting taxes to the high income crowd and hoping that makes everything rosy.”
The Bush 2001 tax cuts limited the depth and length of the 2000-2001 recession. Unfortunately our economy took a major hit due to the attacks of 9/11. It was the combination of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts that turned the economy around. In fact we had a tremendous economic boom between September 2003 and December 2007. There were 52 consecutive months of job growth resulting in 5 million new jobs. There was record employment, and the unemployment rate averaged 5.0% during that period. There was also record federal revenues. In fact we had two quarters where revenues exceeded spending.
All of that in spite of the downturn in the housing market and skyrocketing rocketing energy prices. And then the subprime mortgage crisis hit us. Yet even with that triple whammy GDP still rose in the first two quarters of 2008.
Unfortunately 2008 was an election year. The campaign rhetoric–specifically the call for raising taxes on the top 5% of the nation’s wage earners–resulted in the wealthy changing their spending habits. When it became clear that Obama was likely going to win the election, the wealthy started a “revolt” by pulling money out of the stockmarkets and cutting back on travel. This resulted in widespread job losses which added to the massive home foreclosures.
Tax cuts work! They give the American people more money in which to spend on necessities and recreation. Instead of campaigning on raising taxes, had the Democrats made the Bush tax cuts permanent the economic collapse would have been quite a much softer downturn.

Even the PLAYS they watch have to have a RACIAL theme! Think about it !

I just wish President Obama would apologize to Las Vegas
James Danley
I just wish Bush & Cheney would apologize to all he families of the dead and wounded American military for starting a needless war.

So I get it, Bush could go to his ranch in Texas all the time (using Air Force One) and spend more time on vacation than any other modern President, but if Obama wants to go to a city 300 miles away for one night using his Presidential transport it’s unacceptable? And you guys realize he does pay for his play tickets, dinner, etc. out of his salary. He also has to pay for meals his family has at the White House. It’s time that we elevate the debate and criticize his policies rather than him taking some time off!

Abby-They should be able to go wherever as long as they flip the bill, not us.

I WAS VERY SURPRISED FOR A PRESIDENT WHO BELIEVES TO HELP THE POOR ,TO FLY TO NY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY TO EAT DINNER AND TO WACTH A SHOW. THERE ARE PEOPLE LOOSING THEIR HOME AND JOBS AND HE WITH UGLY ARROGANT WIFE GOES TO NY TO WATCH SHOW FOR THOUSENDS AND THOUSENDS OF TAX PAYERS MONEY.WHAT IS ALL ABOUT !HE STOP A LOT OF COMPANIES TO GO LAS VEGAS FOR MEETINGS AND COUSE ECONOMICAL KATOSTROPHY OVER THERE BUT HE AND HIS WIFE CAN ENJOY LIFE USING OUR MONEY.WHY DON’T THEY STAY HOME AND TAKE CARE OF THEIR DAUGHTERS.AND ALSO THE COUNTRY IS SUFFERING FROM A LOT OF PROBLEMS ,WHY DON’T HE TRY TO SOLVE IT!!!INSTEAD FLYING WITH TAX PAYERS MONEY EVERY DAY.
BUSSNESS IS VERY BAD NOW.

Oddly, it’s the self appointed “family values” party that is outraged over a loving husband fulfilling his promise to his wife for a date in New York after they attended their daughter’s soccer game.
It’s a shame the Obamas actually living those “family values” instead of telling everyone else to has made you all so uncomfortable.

He’s addicted to adulation. So what he is really modeling for today’s youth is mental illness. Great. Hey, just think, if we survive this, we won’t ever have to elect another Teenager-in-Chief again — EVER!!

I refuse to read anymore of the negative comments, and post this: All of you who, can’t fly to NY, or attend a broadway show, try harder. Show some respect to our leader. He is entitled to some R&R

A trip to the moon on gossamer wings, just one of those things

The President, people, is entitled to a private life, time with his family, and time away from the White House and DC. According to reports from all sources, he has been working 14 hour days, not only weekdays but weekends. Without some “down time” he’ll lose both perspective and his ability to function. Are you all saying that he has to spend all of his down time closeted at the White House because there is a recession? Please. Every President has taken getaways — to Camp David, to the “Westeren White House” , to the “Kennedy Compound”, during wars and depressions and recessions — and they have all traveled aboard one of the “airforce one” planes or helicopters — as they MUST. Oddy we heard no complaints from the RNC when Bush was flown to spend 879 days — or 30% of his Presidency — at his ranch in Crawford, TX to vacation; during the “War on Terror”:not even when he remained there during and in the immediate aftermath of Katrina. In the first 5 years of his Presidency, Airforce One had fueled up 56 times to take Bush down to the Ranch. Where was the RNC then?

The President has a right to down time and to time with his wife and family away from the White House, and away from Washington. Without it, a man who is — by all accounts — working seven days a week and 14 hours a day most ofthose days, will lose perspective and the ability to function. Every President has taken getawys during depressions, recessions, and wars: to Camp David, to the “Western white House”, to Kennebunkport, to the “Kennedy Compound” — and all have flown to those spots via a plane inr the airforce one fleet, as they MUST. Where were the RNC’s complaints when GW Bush had the fleet fly him to spend 879 days — or 30% of his Presidency — vacationing at his ranch in Crawford, TX? Why, he’d made 56 trips to the ranch in the first 5 years of his presidency, alone — and managed to spend the week Katrina ravaged New Orleans there , as well. And the RNC was silent.
56 times (in the first 5 years of his Presidency) to vacation at his ranch in Crawford, TX ?

Skip wrote: “Sure, Republicans would be perfectly happy having more of the burden of paying down the debt sit squarely on the shoulders of the middle class.”
According to the latest IRS statistics, in 2006 the top 5% of the nation’s wage earners–those making more than $153,542–accounted for 36.66% of the nation’s total Adjusted Gross Income. Yet they accounted for 60.14% of the total federal income tax revenue. The bottom 50% of the nation’s wage earners–those making less than $31,987–accounted for 12.51% of the nation’s total AGI. But they accounted for just 2.99% of the total tax federal income tax revenue. Yet you still want to raise taxes even more, shifting even more of the tax burden on the top 5%. It’s no wonder they are “revolting.”

That’s right Maria, Bush wasn’t lecturing us he was just overspending the public’s budget by a half a trillion dollars a year for 8 years straight, while flying back and forth on the taxpayers’ dollar to his ranch and appearing at Republican fundraisers. That was just before the economy crashed on his watch.
Give President Obama at least one year before you condemn him in this fashion. And good luck to us attempting to recover from the damage done to the economy.

“Yet you still want to raise taxes even more, shifting even more of the tax burden on the top 5%. It’s no wonder they are “revolting.”
Not all of them are. While greedy Republicans may be complaining that the wealthy will be unfairly burdened our Democratic operatives in the top percentiles have reported publicly that nothing could be further from the truth. In fact it’s been a total hayride for the wealthy in this country for most of the last 8 years while the middle class has suffered. Many of the beneficiaries acknowledge it and are willing to contribute more by supporting the elimination of Bush’s tax cuts for the rich.

James Danley,
If you’d like to have a well-rounded discussion about the tax burden in this country being overly and unjustly laden on the wealthy, when quoting statistics, please include some on the difference in total effective tax rate among the income groups. Federal tax, is only one piece of the American tax burden…there are state and local taxes that should be factored into any discussion about tax fairness and reform. Effective tax rate represents the cumulative percent of all taxes paid as a percentage of income. When you look at the whole picture, economists tend to agree that the tax burden is not as skewed to the rich as you’d like us to believe. In fact, “by one measure of the federal, state, and local tax burden, just 3.4 percentage points separate the effective tax rate paid by the top 1 percent of earners from the other 99 percent of American households.” 3.4% separating the haves from the have nots…pretty close to even, some might even argue, almost “flat”.

I have no problem with the Obama’s taking a date night, I think it’s charming. However, when my wife and I have a date night I pay for it, and I can’t even deduct it. Whereas the Obama’s use government airplanes to go on personal trips and require a whole city to incur the cost of the extra security so they can go on a date. The same government requires any corporate executive using a company plane for personal reasons to either determine the cost and reimburse the company or, report the cost as income subject to income tax and report it as perquisite in the executive compensation section of the proxy. Seems hypocritical to not follow the same principle for using his employer’s plane for personal purposes. I’m sure the corporations feel just as strongly that their executives need the extra security and ease provided by a private jet. And for all those who seem inclined to jump on any who critisizes President Obama for anything I feel the same way about President Bush using the planes for personal purposes.

Danita, the economy did not crash because of George Bush (or because of Barack Obama). His tax cuts and economic policies helped shorten the recession that he inherited (it began officially in March of 2001, two months after his inauguration and thus too soon to be laid at his doorstep, just as the current recession _began_ before Obama’s policies kicked in and could have an influence for good or ill) The economy recovered after being further damaged by 9/11 and the recession only officially lasted 8 months.
Recessions are seldom caused only by acts of government, and seldom ended only by acts of government. (To be sure, the impact of such massive spending as Obama is doing remains to be seen and may prove an exception.) There are complicated events that combined to create the conditions for this recession– the housing bubble and subprime lending and derivates excesses chief among them. To say it was caused by Bush overspending, especially given the fact that the deficit spending of those years is completely dwarfed by the deficit spending of the current administration, is laughable.

Whoops– in the comment I just posted, I referred to “danita” wringing her hands over the president, when of course, I mean “texgirl,” as stated in my opening sentence. Sorry about that, kids. When Ryan_C takes the day off, I sometimes get the rest of you cheerleaders mixed up.

JKS, you seem to miss my point, when you responded to my remark about the Pres and VP travelling to Colorado in separate planes for the signing of the stimulus bill. No, they should not travel in the same plane. But they did not need to both travel all that distance for a bill signing ceremony in the first place– why not sign it in Washington, since we were in such a hurry to get it passed that we couldnt’ wait for folks to read it. And if the president was insistent upon signing it in Colorado, VP Biden could have stayed home in DC and minded the store. It was a waste of energy (and time) for both of them to fly to colorado for this event.

Talk about double standards. They took 3 smaller planes. How practical. It is alot of nerve considering the economic climate in our country. Date nights have to be put on hold until they have to be in NY on business, and then have a date night. If a Republican did this the news media would be all over this event. Obama is abusing the office on this event.

I think it is awesome they had such a fabulous date night. Those of you fussing about this must be jealous.

When President Obama proposes to raise taxes on the very people who generate over 60% of our tax revenue, he is flirting with danger. You push this segment too far and you will find overall decreased investment and holding back of a significant amount of spending. This will make the recession even worse. Of course, the President couldn’t wait to put this in motion – though it certainly was the wrong time to do so.
The Administration is playing us all for fools. They don’t mind alienating an economically important segment of the population in order to give tax breaks to the remaining 95%. But given our deficits, and the way they are exponentially growing by the day, we will all be in for higher taxes sooner than we could imagine. Tax rebates in the stimulus are less for economic reasons and more for political ones. It “buys” votes in the future. Part of the stimulus bill was to give $250 to every social security recipient. Do you really think that will have a profound effect on the lives of our retired citizens? Of course not, but it will keep the votes coming and we are all falling for it.
Obama’s overambitious agenda depends on two things. The first one is that there is no turn-around of Congress in the off-year elections. If the Democrats see their base shrinking, they will be less prone to vote with the Administration. The second one is to re-elect the President in 2012. If we don’t, and his policies are overturned by his successor, we will have doubled the deficit and have very little to show for it. History will not be kind to the President if this happens. And yes, he very much cares about his role in history. All presidents do – or they wouldn’t be up for the job.

Hes still human. Next time you want someone thats not vote for a robot. He is married, has 2 kids. Last time I checked married people goto dinner and movies/shows. She deserves to be treated like a wife, and it is his duty to also be a husband. Get over yourselves, find something else to critisize.

The middle class has not even begone to suffer. If you think the last 8 years were hard on the middle class wait to you see what the next 4 years will be.
And as far as the President going to NY for date night. President Obama said we need to change our over spending and down size. I guess he meant us little people not him. They have resturant and shows in DC, NY could of waited for better times. Oh, maybe not NY is going broke with all the over taxed rich leaving NY and NJ.

Amy T.,
The average American believes that the wealthy are not paying their “fair share” of the tax burden. That belief is the result of the demonization of the wealthy by the liberal-leaning mainstream media, Liberal politicians and the extreme radical Left blogs. It is imperative to propagate class warfare to accomplish class envy by the masses, without which the Left could never get their socialist agenda passed.
Now let me put this into a different light. Would it be “fair” to charge a person making more than $250,000 an extra 50% for a loaf of bread? An extra 50% for a magazine? An extra 50% for a movie ticket? Would it be “fair” to have separate restaurant menues; one for those making less than $250,000 and one for those making more than $250,000; with the latter having to pay 50% more for the same entree?
That would punish those who have achieved financial success and encourage mediocrity. It would crush the entrepreneurial spirit–the American Dream–which has made America the great country that it is. Why make more than the threshold if you could actually live cheaper by maintaining a salary below the threshold? THAT would result in placing more of a tax burden on the middle class.

“The average American believes that the wealthy are not paying their “fair share” of the tax burden. That belief is the result of the demonization of the wealthy by the liberal-leaning mainstream media…”
It’s going to be a tough sell convincing those same Americans that the wealthy weren’t as rich as it seemed, it was just the commies that control the major news networks trying to make it look that way, even though they bought record numbers of luxury items like vacation homes, yachts and private jets. They needed to be more discreet is all. Oprah felt so guilty about it she started giving away cars.

Two helicopters and three planes – [CLASSIFIED]
Security detail – [CLASSIFIED]
Broadway tickets for two plus security detail and other hangers-on – [CLASSIFIED]
Sticking the taxpayers with the bill while telling them they need to tighten their belts – PRICELESS

You complainers are going to complain no matter what he does. Hollyhock – I don’t agree that it was BO that caused your unemployment and not W – BO hasn’t been in office long enough for many of his policies to have that effect. If he hadn’t gone to NYC you people would find something else to criticize and I expect it will be that way for the next 8 years. The good news is that he keeps on working to make this country a better place and I think he will be successful – even though I expect he will make his mistakes along the way. It can’t be as bad as the last 8 years and at least he’s trying a vastly different approach.

Is this supposed to be NEWS or have I wandered into some cheesy soap opera magazine site? Who cares about Obama’s “stunning” black suit and lack of tie? Can we please finish up with the slobbering over Obama and get to the business of real news reporting? I can see the headlines.. “North Korea fires nuclear missile.. but Obama sure looked stunning! And to those who justify this as a “Date Night” – do they not have places a little closer to home they could have gone? Flying away from home is not a date, it’s a vacation. My boss doesn’t pay for my date nights, so I sure hope Obama pulled the 10s of thousands of dollars this cost from his own wallet, and not the tax payers’.

What’s the problem with this little date night trip?Obama was just acting like one of those auto CEO’s jumping on their corporate jets to fly all over the country. Wait! Didn’t he just buy a couple of car companies?

the man makes 400K and 2million last year. he could well afford that trip to new york without the taxpayers. and why not? people i know are still traveling and going out to dinner. if that’s how he relaxes then so be it. people will always find something to complain about. he’s not waterboarding, having sex with an intern (female or male) or bugging the republican national committee. jeez!

Amazing…President Clinton made well over 35 trips to NY while president; President Bush visited his ranch in Texas whenever he was inclined. A black president makes one personal trip almost 5 months after becoming president and the issue of taxpayer cost becomes headlines. Is he supposed to be a prisoner in D.C.? Racial prejudice is alive and well.

Julia, I personally have not complained about President Obama’s date night to New York City. I understand that presidents do travel all the time. But see the real difference between President Clinton’s and President Bush’s traveling is THEY NEVER SAID: “You can’t get corporate jets. You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas or go down to the Super Bowl on the taxpayer’s dime.”
President Obama actually CONDEMNED the bailed out companies for extravagant spending of taxpayers money and then he makes this trip to New York City. I would have much preferred that President Obama waited until he and Michelle actually had some kind of business–even if it was a fundraiser–in New York City.
Now then, there have been several comments about President Bush’s many trips/vacations to Crawford Ranch. You have to understand that no matter where the president is he is able to conduct the same business that he does in the White House. So even though President Bush may have been on the Ranch he still conducted his daily briefings, meetings and yes even conducted discussions with some world leaders.

This man is Nigerian rich. He should be ashamed. To put out word that business meetings in Las Vegas are bad and then he and his woman go out for a night on the town on taxpayer money. Nigerian.

Why did he apply for the job description of being a president – all he dose is whine about the past president. Could it be that he is completely clueless about being a working president?

Its not that he had a date, its what the date cost the taxpayer. Can I deduct this as entertainment on my taxes. I need the deductions and after all I DID PAY FOR IT.

The timing of this story is perfectly timed with the public company proxy season, where disclosures about corporate-jet use attract wide attention.

Coming on the heels of the GM crisis, this is like Nero fiddling while Rome burns. You know what is one of the biggest causes of marital strife? Fiscal worries.
This man is personally responsible for the auto workers losing their jobs under his GM buyout plan – what does he think the workers are going to do for date night now? Beg?

Sorry, Jeff, that last comment should have been to Sarah.

yes,plz vote for him,to make our city better than it actually is.